Life is hectic enough without having to spend time washing up! A dishwasher will not only free up your time but will also save you water and energy. Using incredibly hot water also ensures all food residues and bacteria are removed from your tableware and cutlery.
How many cycles should a dishwasher have? Read on to find out…
How does a dishwasher work?
Basically, a dishwasher cleans and rinses dirty tableware. After you’ve loaded the dishes, added the detergent, and set the wash cycle the dishwasher will add the water by filling a reservoir at the bottom until it activates a float, then heating it to the appropriate temperature with an electrical element. It will automatically open the detergent dispenser as needed and force the water through the spray arms to clean the dishes.
The dirty water will then be drained and the dishes sprayed and rinsed again. The final drain is followed by heating the air to dry the dishes off. Dishwasher cycle stages are monitored by the appliance itself to regulate the length of each cycle and to prevent the dishwasher from overheating.
Dishwasher cycles explained
A dishwasher cleaning cycle generally has a specific name that will define its use. The number of cycles will be determined by user settings. Cycles can last from one hour up to four hours depending on the cycle option you choose, with a normal regular dishwasher cycle lasting around two hours.
Cycles on modern dishwashers tend to be longer as they’re designed for energy efficiency. Longer cycles save energy as they use the water more efficiently. If the water entering the appliance isn’t hot enough this can cause the cycle to be extended as the dishwasher will hold the water until the correct temperature has been reached.
Look at the following cycles to see what they mean:
Light cycleThis cycle is typically used for delicate glassware and plates and is sometimes displayed as a china cycle. This light wash has a much gentler spray to avoid damaging fine china and crystal.
Normal cycleFor everyday washing of plates and cutlery, this is the cycle you would use. Normally soiled tableware that doesn’t have baked-on food residues will be adequately washed without using excessive amounts of heat and water.
Heavy cycleFor items that need a more thorough wash such as pots and pans that may be heavily soiled with baked-on grime. This cycle may also be displayed as Heavy Duty or Intensive.
Many modern dishwashers have additional cycle options which include:
Auto clean: this feature senses how dirty the dishes are and selects the settings automatically.
Delay wash: setting the dishwasher at a specific time to run when you’re not at home or when the evening energy tariff is cheaper.
Eco-wash: running slow, energy-saving cycles.
Half-load: when you have smaller wash requirements.
Quick wash: perfect for dishes that have already been rinsed.
Rinse/hold: allowing you to rinse dishes and leave them in the dishwasher until you have a larger load.
SaniWash/ Anti-bacterial cycle: this standard requires that dishwashers remove 99.99% of bacteria from your dishes at an extremely high temperature.
Got problems with your dishwasher?
A dishwasher repair in London is easy to book with experienced appliance repairers. Only the most effective tools and replacement parts will be used by qualified engineers who are all fully insured to carry out your repair work. You won’t need to pay a deposit or a call-out fee, and same-day or short notice appointments will be available on request. And you’ll get a full quality guarantee that lasts for six months.
